Looking Ahead puts the spotlight on runners of interest across Australia and New Zealand. Whether they are a particularly well-bred or high-priced runner having their first or second start, a promising galloper returning to the track or a horse which has trialled particularly well, we’ll aim to give you something to follow.
Three well-related gallopers will make their debuts at Wyong on Wednesday. Among them is a son of Darley's exciting Too Darn Hot (GB) and a filly by Coolmore's Justify (USA).
Wyong, Race 6, 4.40pm AEDT, R. Listed Magic Millions Wyong 2YO Classic, $200,000, 1100m
Aboveforty, 2-year-old colt (Too Darn Hot {GB} x Birdy O’Reilly {O’Reilly {NZ}})
Darley’s Too Darn Hot has made a sizzling start with his first Southern Hemisphere crop. His classy daughter Arabian Summer was an easy victress of last Saturday’s Magic Millions Ballarat 2YO Classic.
On Wednesday, his son Aboveforty will chase a debut success in the R. Listed Magic Millions Wyong 2YO Classic. Trained by the Champion Trainer Chris Waller, the colt is the second foal from the O’Reilly (NZ) mare Birdy O’Reilly.
Aboveforty as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Aboveforty’s dam is a half-sister to Waller’s seven-time winner Oscar Zulu (Epaulette), a multiple stakes placegetter. His third dam is the blue hen, Parfore (NZ) (Gold Brose), who is the dam of the Group 1 sprinters Tiger Tees (NZ) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Terravista (Captain Rio {GB}).
Aboveforty was a $170,000 weanling purchase by STAS Bloodstock from the draft of Cannon Hayes Stud at the 2022 Inglis Australian Weanling Sale. Bhima Thoroughbreds reoffered the colt at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, where Mulcaster Bloodstock and Chris Waller Racing paid $250,000.
Wyong, Race 6, 4.40pm AEDT, R. Listed Magic Millions Wyong 2YO Classic, $200,000, 1100m
Justice Please, 2-year-old filly (Justify {USA} x Pleasurable {Ire} {Camelot {GB}})
The Newcastle stable of Kris Lees enjoyed a super Saturday with victories by Loch Eagle (Lonhro) in the $2 million G2 The Ingham and Dream Hour (Dawn Approach {Ire}) in The Gateway.
Lees will debut Justice Please, a filly by last season’s Champion First Season Sire Justify, at Wyong on Wednesday. She is the first foal from Pleasurable (Ire), a daughter of Camelot (GB), who was a winner in Ireland.
Justice Please as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Pleasurable is related to Red Cardinal (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}), a seven-time winner with feature race wins in Germany, Australia and North America. Red Cardinal’s full sister, Maria Royal (Ire), won the G2 Prix de Royallieu and has run fourth in two Group 1 contests.
Justice Please was a $120,000 purchase by Kris Lees from the draft of Coolmore Stud at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Wyong, Race 1, 1.45pm AEDT, Stainless FX Mdn H., $50,000, 1350m
How Much Better, 3-year-old colt (All Too Hard x Dayeala {NZ} {Starcraft {NZ}})
Wyong-based Sara Ryan, who has been in flying form, will debut How Much Better, a son of Vinery Stud’s All Too Hard, at her home track on Wednesday.
The colt is the third foal from the Starcraft (NZ) mare Dayeala, who has produced the eight-time winner Much Much Better (Stratum), a fourth placegetter in the G2 Expressway S.
How Much Better as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
How Much Better is from the family of Grey Swallow (Ire), the Champion 2-Year-Old and 3-Year-Old in Ireland.
The son of Daylami (Ire) won the G1 Irish Derby and the G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup. Furthermore, How Much Better is related to the Japanese stakes winners Hygge (Jpn) (Heart’s Cry {Jpn}) and Shigeru Pink Baby (Jpn) (Maurice {Jpn}).
How Much Better was a $220,000 purchase from Vinery Stud at the 2022 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
Looking Back
We had a winner on Tuesday with Tingler (More Than Ready {USA}) scoring on debut at Tamworth. Autumn Acquisition (The Autumn Sun), who was having his first start, failed to figure in the finish at Hamilton.
